2013 Phoenix Coyotes Schedule: 48 Crazy Nights

The lockout was officially lifted at 8 p.m. Arizona time when the Memorandum of Understanding between the NHL and NHLPA was signed. The official schedule for the upcoming season was released shortly after that. Below are is the Phoenix Coyotes season schedule along with some key games and dates for the 2013 NHL season:

January 19: Coyotes @ Dallas Stars; 6 p.m. The season-opener will take place in Dallas against former Coyote Ray Whitney and the Stars. This will be the first Coyotes game since May 22, 2012. The Coyotes were originally supposed to host the Stars in the Coyotes home opener.

January 20: Chicago Blackhawks @ Coyotes; 8 p.m. Banner night at The Job! The first home game of the season will take place on a Sunday Night, and will be nationally televised on NBCSN. This re-match of the opening round of the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs will be without Raffi Torres as he will be suspended for the first eight games of the season.

January 24: Coyotes @ San Jose Sharks; 8:30 p.m. First game against the division rival Sharks.

January 26: Los Angeles Kings @ Coyotes; 6 p.m. In yet another rivalry game, the Kings make their first appearance at Jobing.com Arena since knocking the Coyotes out of the playoffs in game 5 of the Western Conference Finals last May. Could we see Shane Doan vs. Dustin Brown again? Maybe.

January 28: Nashville Predators @ Coyotes; 7 p.m. Back-to-back home playoff re-matches for the Coyotes as they will faceoff against the team they ousted in the 2nd round of the playoffs in five games.

February 4: Minnesota Wild @ Coyotes; 7 p.m. The new look wild come into Jobing.com Arena. Fans get a chance to see a team that added the two biggest free agents in the off-season: Zach Parise and Ryan Suter.

February 7: Blackhawks @ Coyotes; 7 p.m. Torres will be eligible to participate in a game that could get very chippy just because of his presence.

February 9: Coyotes @ Sharks; 2 p.m. Afternoon matinee against the Sharks that will be broadcast nationally on NHL Network.

March 2, 4, 6: Anaheim Ducks vs. Coyotes; 6 p.m., 7 p.m., 8 p.m. The Coyotes will play back-to-back-to-back games against the Ducks. With three games in five days against the same team, it will feel like a mini playoff series.

March 18, 19: Coyotes @ Kings; 7:30 p.m. Coyotes will play back-to-back nights against the Kings at the Staples Center. Same time and same location both nights.

March 25: Detroit Red Wings @ Coyotes; 7 p.m. Despite last season’s playoff success, the Coyotes and its fans have not forgotten the playoff pain caused by the Red Wings.

April 26: Colorado Avalanche @ Coyotes; 7 p.m. The last home game of the regular season takes place three weeks later than usual.

April 27: Coyotes @ Ducks; 7 p.m. The Coyotes end the regular season against the division rival Ducks in Anaheim. The game will be televised nationally on NBCSN.